The Best Advice for Learning to Be Content

In my last post I talked about how damaging it is to compare ourselves to others. It makes it really hard to be content. So DON’T compare.

But what can you DO to live in a place of contentment.

Focus on gratitude.

In her book “1000 Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are,” Ann Voskamp has this quote, which I love!

“When I give thanks for the seemingly microscopic, I make a place for God to grow within me.”

For example, when I’m doing the 12th load of laundry for the weekend and am tempted to grumble about the never-ending pile of dirty clothes (which can quickly spiral into the “why do I have to do everything” pity party), I stop.

I start listing the things I have to be thankful for.

I’m thankful I don’t have to wash my clothes by hand.

I’m thankful for detergent I can buy at the store that works.

I’m thankful for dryers. Because I hate putting on crunchy jeans.

I’m thankful that we have so many clothes to wear.

I’m thankful that my washer and dryer are inside my air conditioned home.

What are some “microscopic” things you can be thankful for in an area where you struggle being content?

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I love this post, Julie! It reminds me of life in a foreign country where I had to boil my bath water, where washing and drying clothes was a three day process for one load…longer on monsoon season. And I just posted today about being thankful for a simple piece of fruit as a summer treasure from God. He is so good. He’s given us so much and there is such beauty in being thankful for what we have. Thanks for the great reminder and kickoff to the weekend!

I so hope you’ll link this and other posts up on my Destination: Inspiration linky party on Tuesdays. And I’d love it as well if you’d be up for a guest post!